Bulimia

Little Black Book, Cossette Quebec City's Nadine El-Whidi and Nicolas Baillargeon, and Anorexia and Bulimia Québec's Josée Champagne on what it took to ...

Eating disorders are complex issues and the more one is informed, the more one can understand them. However, eating disorders thrive in this environment because of the obsession with health, strength and performance - key triggers that can be detrimental to both physical and mental health. For the casting, we worked mostly with people we knew who were willing to participate in the campaign because they felt compelled by its mission and its message. LBB> Working on a project that addresses eating disorders must have been a powerful experience. Josée> This is a complex question, given that every situation is unique, but indeed, eating disorders and isolation go hand in hand. LBB> In the same vein, what was the photography process like? And what made this the approach you wanted to go with? Josée> ANEB is a non-profit organisation that guarantees free, immediate, and specialised help to people with an eating disorder, and to their loved ones. LBB> The idea of being trapped in one’s own body is very poignant. ANEB has offered specialised services for 35 years, and maintains its presence in various places in the community to raise awareness of these mental health issues. Nadine> Our client noticed that the people reaching out to ANEB mostly fit the same profile: thin, young, white girls and women. It’s a grim prospect, made only worse by the fact that it can happen to anybody.